Belt mower with two operating orientations

Abstract

A lawn mower includes a mower deck supporting a mower belt with cutting elements thereon to produce a cutting action when the belt is driven by a motor to rotate in an endless loop relative to the mower deck. A handle is supported on the mower deck to be movable between different orientations. The mower belt extends along multiple sides of the mower deck which are different in configuration from one another to vary the cutting configuration of the mower as the handle is displaced between different orientations. In a preferred embodiment, the mower deck is triangular in shape and guard members protrude outward from the sides of the deck over the cutting elements with transverse slots therein.

1 . A belt mower for mowing grass, the belt mower comprising:
 a mower deck having a first side and a second side which is different in configuration from the first side;   a mower belt forming an endless loop and supporting a plurality of cutting elements thereon such that the cutting elements extend transversely outwardly from a common outer side of the belt;   a belt drive assembly including a plurality of pulleys rotatably supported on the bottom side of the mower deck and supporting the mower belt thereon such that the mower belt follows a belt path;   a motor coupled to the belt drive assembly to drive rotation of the belt such that the cutting elements effect a cutting action upon the grass;   an operator handle extending rearwardly from the mower deck in a handle direction at an upward inclination from a bottom end of the operator handle coupled to the mower deck to a top end of the operator handle for gripping in hands of an operator;   the belt path including (i) a first cutting section extending along the first side of the mower deck, and (ii) a second cutting section extending along the second side of the mower deck such that the first and second cutting sections have a different cutting configuration; and   the operator handle being pivotal relative to the mower deck about a handle axis between a first cutting orientation in which the first cutting section is opposite from the operator handle and a second cutting orientation in which the second cutting section is opposite from the operator handle.   
     
     
         2 . The mower according to  claim 1  wherein the first side and the second side of the mower deck have different widths and define different cutting width of the mower in the first and second cutting orientations respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The mower according to  claim 1  wherein the handle axis about which the operator handle is pivotal between the first and second cutting orientations is an upright axis. 
     
     
         4 . The mower according to  claim 1  wherein the first side of the mower deck and a corresponding portion of the belt path along the first side of the mower deck comprise a first forward cutting section extending along a first portion of a first side of the mower deck and a second forward cutting section extending along a second portion of the first side of the mower deck in which the first and second forward cutting sections are linear and meet one another at apex defining an acute interior angle between the first and second forward cutting sections, and wherein the second side of the mower deck is generally linear such that the belt path is generally triangular in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The belt mower according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 the first side of the mower deck defines a maximum overall width of the mower deck in the first cutting orientation and the second side of the mower deck is oriented transversely to the first side so as to define a second overall width of the mower deck in the second cutting orientation which is less than the maximum overall width; 
 the belt path including (i) a wide cutting section extending along the first side of the mower deck in which the cutting elements effect the cutting action along the wide cutting section, and (ii) a narrow cutting section extending along the second side of the mower deck in which the cutting elements effect the cutting action along the narrow cutting section; and 
 the handle axis comprising an upright axis such that the handle is pivotal between a wide cutting orientation corresponding to the first cutting orientation in which the operator handle is diametrically opposed from the first cutting section that defines a wide cutting section of the belt path and a narrow cutting orientation corresponding to the second cutting orientation in which the operator handle is diametrically opposed from the second cutting section defining a narrow cutting section of the belt path. 
 
     
     
         6 . The mower according to  claim 5  wherein the first side and the second side of the mower deck are perpendicular relative to one another and adjacent to one another such that the operator handle is rotated about the handle axis through 90 degrees between the wide cutting orientation and the narrow cutting orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The mower according to  claim 3  wherein the motor includes a rotary output coupled to the belt drive assembly which is rotatable about the upright handle axis about which the operator handle is pivoted and the motor is pivotal together with the operator handle relative to the mower deck between the first cutting orientation and the second cutting orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The mower according to  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of auxiliary wheels coupled to the operator handle outside of a perimeter defined by the belt path such that the mower deck is pivotal about the upright axis relative to both the auxiliary wheels and the operator handle between the first and second cutting orientations. 
     
     
         9 . The mower according to  claim 8  further comprising a latching mechanism associated with each auxiliary wheel which is operable between a latched position in which the auxiliary wheel is supported for rolling movement in the handle direction and an unlatched position in which the auxiliary wheel is freely pivotal about a respective upright wheel axis for rotation in any direction. 
     
     
         10 . The mower according to  claim 1  further comprising a guard member supported on the mower deck for pivotal movement between a guard position protruding laterally outwardly from the mower deck overtop of one of the sections of the belt path such that the cutting elements along said one of the sections of the belt path are recessed inwardly relative to an outer edge of the guard member and a deflected position in which the guard member is displaced inwardly relative to the guard position such that the cutting elements along said one of the sections of the belt path protrude outwardly beyond the outer edge of the guard member. 
     
     
         11 . The mower according to  claim 1  further comprising a second belt forming an endless loop and supporting a plurality of cutting elements thereon, wherein the pulleys of the belt drive assembly support the second belt to follow the belt path of the mower belt in counter rotating relationship to the mower belt. 
     
     
         12 . The mower according to  claim 1  wherein the cutting elements are releasably mounted on the mower belt so as to be readily interchangeable. 
     
     
         13 . The mower according to  claim 1  wherein each cutting element comprises an elongate filament having a main portion and a weighted portion at a distal end of the main portion farthest from the mower belt which is increased in cross-sectional dimension relative to the main portion. 
     
     
         14 . The mower according to  claim 1  further comprising a guard member protruding laterally outwardly from the mower deck overtop of one of the sections of the belt path such that the cutting elements along said one of the sections of the belt path are recessed inwardly relative to an outer edge of the guard member, the guard member including a plurality of elongate slots formed therein which are oriented transversely to the belt path and which are open to the outer edge of the guard member. 
     
     
         15 . The mower according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of deck wheels coupled to the mower deck within a perimeter defined by the belt path and supporting the mower deck for rolling movement along the ground in which the wheels are multidirectional to allow for movement in any direction and in which the belt cutting path extends about a perimeter of the mower deck for cutting in both forward and either lateral direction of the mower. 
     
     
         16 . A belt mower for mowing grass, the belt mower comprising:
 a mower deck;   a mower belt forming an endless loop and supporting a plurality of cutting elements thereon such that the cutting elements extend transversely outwardly from a common outer side of the belt;   a belt drive assembly including a plurality of pulleys rotatably supported on the bottom side of the mower deck and supporting the mower belt thereon such that the mower belt follows a belt path;   a motor coupled to the belt drive assembly to drive rotation of the belt such that the cutting elements effect a cutting action upon the grass;   an operator handle extending outwardly from the mower deck in a rearward direction at an upward inclination from a bottom end of the operator handle coupled to the mower deck and a top end of the operator handle for gripping in hands of an operator;   the belt path including a first forward cutting section extending along a first portion of a front side of the mower deck opposing the operator handle and a second forward cutting section extending along a second portion of the front side of the mower deck;   the first and second forward cutting sections being linear and meeting one another at apex defining an acute interior angle between the first and second forward cutting sections.   
     
     
         17 . The mower according to  claim 16  wherein the first and second forward cutting sections collectively span a full width of the mower in a lateral direction perpendicular to the rearward direction of the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The mower according to  claim 16  further comprising a guard member protruding outwardly from the mower deck overtop of one of the sections of the belt path such that the cutting elements along said one of the sections of the belt path are recessed inwardly relative to an outer edge of the guard member and a plurality of elongate slots formed in the guard member which are oriented in a forward working direction of the mower and which are open to the outer edge of the guard member. 
     
     
         19 . A belt mower for mowing grass, the belt mower comprising:
 a mower deck;   a mower belt forming an endless loop and supporting a plurality of cutting elements thereon such that the cutting elements extend transversely outwardly from a common outer side of the belt;   a belt drive assembly including a plurality of pulleys rotatably supported on the bottom side of the mower deck and supporting the mower belt thereon such that the mower belt follows a belt path;   a motor coupled to the belt drive assembly to drive rotation of the belt such that the cutting elements effect a cutting action upon the grass;   an operator handle extending outwardly from the mower deck in a rearward direction at an upward inclination from a bottom end of the operator handle coupled to the mower deck and a top end of the operator handle for gripping in hands of an operator;   a guard member protruding laterally outwardly from the mower deck overtop of a portion of the belt path such that the cutting elements along said portion of the belt path are recessed inwardly relative to an outer edge of the guard member, the guard member including a plurality of elongate slots formed therein which are oriented transversely to the belt path and which are open to the outer edge of the guard member.   
     
     
         20 . The belt mower according to  claim 19  wherein the guard member is supported on the mower deck for pivotal movement between a guard position protruding laterally outwardly from the mower deck overtop of said portion of the belt path such that the cutting elements along said portion of the belt path are recessed inwardly relative to an outer edge of the guard member and a deflected position in which the guard member is displaced inwardly relative to the guard position such that the cutting elements along said portion of the belt path protrude horizontally outwardly beyond the outer edge of the guard member.